About the Program

The Bachelor of Data Science (BSDS) prepares students to meet the challenges presented by the explosive growth of very large scale and complex data sources. The availability of data from sources such as business activities, social media and scientific instruments constantly creates new problems requiring data-driven solutions and opportunities and problems for innovation. BS in Data Science students develop the knowledge and skill to address these opportunities for the benefit of individuals and organizations. Students in the degree complete a minor, typically in business or the sciences, to provide knowledge and skill in a specific subject area to which data science techniques can be applied.

Create visualizations and communicate data analytics results to a large audience and decision makers.

Assess the necessary skills arising from the interdisciplinary nature of data science as a combination of hacking skills, analytical techniques, and domain knowledge.

The degrees in Computing and Security Technology, Data Science, and Information Systems share a common first year. This allows students to easily switch among the degrees early in their studies. In addition, some of the electives in each degree are accessible to students in the other two majors and this provides a deeper and broader set of advanced topics for students in all three majors.

Additional Information

For more information about this program, please visit the BS in Data Science web page on the College of Computing & Informatics' website.

Choose a minor in a data science application area including business and natural science

Free Electives

27.0

Total Credits

187.0

1 Students should consult their academic advisor regarding a minor that requires more than 24.0 credits. Please note: If a Business Adminstration Minor is selected, MIS classes do not count towards the Business Administration Minor for Data Science students. Students must choose another option to fulfill the Business Administration Minor requirements.

Minor in Data Science

Data Science provides a foundation for problem-solving in a data-driven society. The minor in Data Science combined basic courses in statistics, information and technology and social contexts to address problems that require large and disparate datasets.

Any student in any major can benefit from a minor in data science. Graduates with such background knowledge are prepared to actively participate in the application of data science within their major area of study.

The minor is available to all University students in good standing, with the exception of students majoring in data science.

Accelerated Degrees

The College of Computing & Informatics offers several Accelerated Degree programs designed to allow students to complete both a bachelor's degree and a graduate degree along with cooperative educational experience in fewer years than would be typical if pursuing the degrees separately. Students accepted in this program can combine any of the College bachelor's and master's degree programs as well as other options.

Any CCI BS/any CCI MS Accelerated Degree (BS & MS in five years, including 2 Co-ops)

Any CCI BS/MBA Accelerated Degree (BS/MBA)

Any CCI BS/JD Accelerated Degree (BS/JD)

For more information on the criteria for entering this program, visit the BS/MS Accelerated Degree page on Drexel's website.

Co-op/Career Opportunities

Co-Op Options

Three co-op options are available for this program:

5-year/3 co-op

4-year/1 co-op

Accelerated Degree (BS & MS): 5-year/2 co-op

Career Opportunities

The new data science major provides valuable skills that can be transported to a number of job settings. The demand for graduates with data science knowledge is strong, and employers often want evidence of additional communication and problem-solving skills that can be applicable to specific disciplines. Data science program graduates could potentially serve as key members of organizational data science teams able to create novel information products, with an emphasis on solving problems that can only be addressed using large and disparate data sources. The program is also an excellent preparation for graduate study in data science.

Drexel University Libraries

Drexel University Libraries is a learning enterprise, advancing the University’s academic mission through serving as educators, supporting education and research, collaborating with researchers, and fostering intentional learning outside of the classroom. Drexel University Libraries engages with Drexel communities through four physical locations, including W. W. Hagerty Library, Hahnemann Library, Queen Lane Library and the Library Learning Terrace, as well as a vibrant online presence which sees, on average, over 8,000 visits per day. In the W.W. Hagerty Library location, College of Computing & Informatics students have access to private study rooms and nearly half a million books, periodicals, DVDs, videos and University Archives. All fields of inquiry are covered, including: library and information science, computer science, software engineering, health informatics, information systems, and computing technology. Resources are available online at library.drexel.edu or in-person at W. W. Hagerty Library.

The Libraries also make available laptop and desktop PC and Mac computers, printers and scanners, spaces for quiet work or group projects and designated 24/7 spaces. Librarians and library staff—including a liaison librarian for computing and informatics—are available for individual research consultations and to answer questions about materials or services.

iCommons

Located in Room 106 of the Rush Building, the College’s iCommons is an open lab and collaborative work environment for students. It features desktop computers, a wireless/laptop area, free black and white printing, more collaborative space for its students and a furnished common area. There is a fully equipped conference room for student use with a 42” display and videoconferencing capabilities. The iCommons provides technical support to students, faculty, and administrative staff. In addition, the staff provides audio-visual support for all presentation classrooms within the Rush Building. Use of the iCommons is reserved for all students taking CCI courses.

The computers for general use are Microsoft Windows and Macintosh OSX machines with appropriate applications which include the Microsoft Office suite, various database management systems, modeling tools, and statistical analysis software. Library related resources may be accessed at the iCommons and through the W.W. Hagerty Library. The College is a member of the Rational SEED Program which provides cutting-edge software development and project management software for usage in the iCommons and CCI classrooms. The College is also a member of the Microsoft Academic Alliance known also as “DreamSpark” that allows students free access to a wide array of Microsoft software titles and operating systems.

The iCommons, student labs, and classrooms have access to networked databases, print and file resources within the College, and the Internet via the University’s network. Email accounts, Internet and BannerWeb access are available through the Office of Information Resources and Technology.

Rush Building

The Rush Building houses classrooms, CCI administrative offices (academic advising, graduate admissions, faculty, etc.) and the iCommons computer lab (open to all CCI students). The building holds 6 classrooms equipped for audio-visual presentation. These rooms typically contain a networked PC, HD video player, ceiling mounted projectors, and other equipment for presentations and demonstrations. Four of these classrooms are fully equipped to function as laptop computing labs for networking, programming and database-related projects.

The Information Technology Laboratory, located in the Rush Building, consists of enterprise class information technology hardware that students would encounter in industry positions. The hardware includes 20 high powered workstations that are available to students and specialized networking lab simulation software. The hardware is networked and reconfigurable utilizing multiple virtual technologies as needed for the various classes the laboratory supports. In addition, a special system has been built into to the classroom to allow for conversion into a standard laptop computing lab utilizing motorized monitor lifts that allow the monitors and keyboards to recess into the desk.

University Crossings - Cyber Learning Center and Computer Lab

CCI also has classrooms, administrative office and faculty offices located in University Crossings, located at the corner of JFK Blvd. and Market Street. The building houses the Cyber Learning Center, a student computer lab, as well as several classrooms with video-conference enabled technology and media projection capabilities.

The Cyber Learning Center (CLC) provides consulting and other learning resources for students taking computer science classes. The CLC is staffed by graduate and undergraduate computer science students from the College of Computing & Informatics.

Both the CLC and UC Lab now serve as a central hub for small group work, student meetings, and TA assistance. The UC Lab is organized with desk space around the perimeter of the lab for individual or partner/pair-programmed student work, as well as with clusters of tables which can be connected as needed into pods to create workspaces for larger groups.

Research Laboratories

The College houses multiple research labs, led by CCI faculty, across Drexel’s main campus including: the Auerbach and Berger Families Cybersecurity Laboratory, Drexel Health and Risk Communication Lab, Socio-Technical Studies Group, Intelligent Information & Knowledge Computing Research Lab, Evidence-based Decision Making Lab, Applied Symbolic Computation Laboratory (ASYM), Geometric and Intelligent Computing Laboratory (GICL), High Performance Computing Laboratory (SPIRAL), Privacy, Security and Automation Laboratory (PSAL), Drexel Research on Play (RePlay) Laboratory, Software Engineering Research Group (SERG), Vision and Cognition Laboratory (VisCog) and the Vision and Graphics Laboratory. For more information on these laboratories, please visit the College’s research web page.

Alumni Garden

The Rush Building’s Alumni Garden provides additional collaborative space for students, faculty, professional staff and alumni. The Garden features wireless networking, tables with built-in power outlets, accessible covered patio and balconies and a bicycle rack. The Alumni Garden may be reserved for Drexel events.

3401 Market Street

3401 Market Street houses faculty offices and doctoral student workspaces. It also is home to College research groups such and University initiatives such as the Isaac L. Auerbach Cybersecurity Institute. The Institute’s Auerbach and Berger Families Cybersecurity Laboratory serves as University’s first training facility dedicated to identifying challenges and discovering solutions in the areas of cyber infrastructure protection and incident response.

Evaluations

The College of Computing & Informatics works continually to improve its degree programs. As part of this effort, the Data Science degree is evaluated relative to the following Objectives and Outcomes.

BS Data Science Program Educational Objectives

Within three to five years of graduation, alumni of the program are expected to achieve one or more of the following milestones:

Be valued contributors to private or public organizations as demonstrated by promotions, increased responsibility, or other professional recognition

Contribute to professional knowledge as demonstrated by published papers, technical reports, patents, or conference presentations

Succeed in continuing professional development as demonstrated by completion of graduate studies or professional certifications

Display commitment and leadership within the professional and community as demonstrated by contributions towards society's greater good and prosperity.

BS Data Science Program Student Outcomes

The program enables students to attain, by the time of graduation

An ability to apply knowledge of computing and mathematics appropriate to the discipline

An ability to analyze a problem, and identify and define the computing requirements appropriate to its solution

An ability to design, implement, and evaluate a computer-based system, process, component, or program to meet desired needs

An ability to function effectively on teams to accomplish a common goal

An understanding of professional, ethical, legal, security and social issues

An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences

An ability to analyze the local and global impact of computing on individuals, organizations, and society

Recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in continuing professional development

An ability to use current techniques, skills, and tools necessary for computing practice

Information Science Faculty

Denise E. Agosto, PhD(Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey). Professor. Information behavior, public libraries, gender, children, young adults, multicultural materials.

Katherine W. McCain, PhD(Drexel University). Professor Emeritus. Scholarly communication, information production and use in the research process, development and structure of scientific specialties, diffusion of innovation, bibliometrics, evaluation of information retrieval systems.

Carol Hansen Montgomery, PhD(Drexel University)Dean of Libraries Emeritus. Research Professor. Selection and use of electronic collections, evaluation of library and information systems, digital libraries, economics of libraries and digital collections.

Delia Neuman, PhD(The Ohio State University). Professor Emeritus. Learning in information-rich environments, instructional systems design, the use of media for learning, and school library media.

Writing-intensive Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid “clustering” these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.

For additional information, and an up-to-date list of the writing-intensive courses being offered, students should check the Drexel University Writing Center page